Plate for columns for the exchange of materials



p 1962 HANS-PETER STREUBER 3,053,520

PLATE FOR COLUMNS FOR THE EXCHANGE OF MATERIALS 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed July 31, 1958 p 1962 HANS-PETER STREUBER 3,053,520

PLATE FOR COLUMNS FOR THE EXCHANGE OF MATERIALS 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed July 31, 1958 Sept. 11, I962 HANS-PETER STREUBER 3,053,520

PLATE FOR COLUMNS FOR THE EXCHANGE OF MATERIALS Filed July 51, 1958 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 Fig.3

p 1962 HANS-PETER STREUBER 3,053,520

PLATE FOR com/ms FOR THE EXCHANGE OF MATERIALS Filed July 51, 1958 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 Sept. 11, 1962 HANS-PETER STREUBER 3,053,520

PLATE FOR COLUMNS FOR THE EXCHANGE OF MATERIALS Filed July 31, 1958 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 Sept. 11, 1962 PLATE FOR COLUMNS FOR THE EXCHANGE OF MATERIALS Filed July 51, 1958 HAN S-PETER STREU BER Fig. 8

6 Sheets-Sheet 6 3,53,52t) PLATE FOR COLUMNS FUR THE EXCHANGE OF MATERIALS Hans-Peter Streuber, Hagrlornstr. 46, Hilden, Rhineland, Germany Fited July 31, 1958, Ser. No. 752,248 Claims priority, application Germany July 31, 1957 19 Claims. (Q1. 261114) Plates for columns for the exchange of materials generally consist of metal Sheets formed with a large number of holes, each of which is surrounded by an upwardly extending duct over which a hood engages. Plates have also been proposed which consist of juxtaposed troughs, with a hood engaging over the juxtaposed edges of the said troughs and the clearances between them. Larger plates generally consist of individual parts firmly screwed to a supporting structure.

The invention has for its object to provide a plate construction which is very simple, light and particularly convenient and which can be employed for columns of large diameter. According to the invention, the plate for exchange columns consists of a plurality of juxtaposed troughs lying with their ends on two supports, with a hood engaging over the adjacent edges of the said troughs and the clearance situated between them, the said supports comprising at the end of each clearance a vertical bolt, each of the troughs supporting at its end, on its outside, a chamber open at the side and at the top, for example a channel section, which encloses with the chamber of the adjacent trough the bolt supporting the hood, which is secured by means of the said bolt. In order to seal from the sides the clearances through which the gaseous element flows, the space enclosed by two chambers enclosing one bolt may be filled with packing material, or the ends of the chambers may bear resiliently against a corresponding widened portion of the lower part of the bolt. Preferably, the hood is supported by a supporting element through which the bolt extends and which closes the chambers at the top.

The chambers may also be formed by an intermediate member adapted to be fitted between the troughs. The intermediate member then preferably has an aperture for the passage of the securing bolt, or it is formed integrally with the securing bolt. In the latter case, it may have the form of a plate, the flanges of which bear against the side faces of the troughs, while a plate parallel thereto bears against the end face of the troughs. A wedge may be provided both to secure such an intermediate element to the support and to secure the hood and the intermediate element together. The attachment to the support may alternatively be effected by providing the intermediate element with a lower bent-over portion which is positioned below the support and which is spaced from the secondmentioned plate of the intermediate element by a distance equal to the thickness of the support.

Embodiments of the invention are illustrated by way of example in the drawings.

FIGURE 1 is a plan view of a column plate. The column plate is shown in the finished state on the righthand side of the figure, while it is shown in the semifinished state on the left-hand side.

FIGURE 2 shows in perspective a section of a column plate according to FIGURE 1, the individual parts of the column plate being illustrated in the various stages of assembly.

FIGURE 3 is a longitudinal section along the line III-III of FIGURE 1 showing a plate fitted in a column.

FIGURES 4 and 5 show in elevation and in plan View a part of a column plate of somewhat different construction.

FIGURE 6 shows in perspective the attachment of the ends of a number of channels to a support of the plate.

FIGURE 7 also shows in perspective another form of the attachment of the ends of a plurality of troughs to a support of the plate.

FIGURE 8 shows in perspective another form of the intermediate element for the attachment of the ends of a number of troughs to a support of the plate.

The plate consists of a four-part ring 1 of T-shaped cross-section (FIGURE 3), of which each part is connected to a segment 2, 3, 4, 5 by welding, such segments defining a quadratic aperture. The parts of the ring 1 are connected together by screw bolts 1a. The segments 2 and 3 are formed with two apertures 6. The segments 4 and 5 are formed with an aperture 6. Extending through the said apertures are vertical rods 7 (FIGURE 3) surrounded by tubes 7a acting as spacer members between two segments of superposed plates. The ring 1 is sealed by means of a packing 9 from the wall 8 of the columns.

The segment 3 supports a weir 10, and the segment 2 a weir 10a which is somewhat lower than the weir 10. The two segments 2 and 3 also support the ends of parallel troughs 11, between which there exists a clearance 12 and which cover the aforesaid quadratic aperture. One segment 2 is formed with apertures 13 through which the liquid can flow on to the segment 3 of the plate situated below it (FIGURE 3). A discharge duct 14 is provided below the apertures 13. The two other segments 4 and 5 have a bent-over portion 15 adjoining the quadratic aperture, which is as high as the flange of the troughs 11. The two segments 4 and 5 have clearances 16 which are as wide as the clearance 12 and are bounded by upright walls which are as high as the flanges of the troughs 11.

The segments 2 and 3 serve as supports for the troughs 11. For the purpose of reinforcement, they are provided with a bent-over portion 17. The said segments support on their edges a number of screw bolts 18 which always lie at the centre of a clearance 12.

The troughs 11 are provided at their ends, on their outsides, with chambers formed by channel sections 19, the height of which is equal to that of the trough flange. The chambers 19 of two adjacent troughs enclose the screw bolts 18. The space 20 enclosed by the chambers 19 is filled with packing material 21. A supporting element or bridge member in the form of a stirrup 22 mounted on the bolt 18 engages over the flanges of adjacent troughs 11, and thus holds them at a predetermined distance apart and presses them on to the supports 2 and 3. In addition, it supports a hood 23. Finally it presses the packing material into the space 20. The hood 23 is securely held in position by the thickness and width of the stirrup 22. The height of the hood 23 can be adjusted with respect to the trough 11 by the choice of stirrups 22 of different thickness. A nut 24 screwed on to the bolt 18 holds the entire arrangement in position. The hoods 23 have recesses 25 in their lower longitudinal edges. The clearances 16 in the segments 4 and 5 are similarly provided with hoods 26 held by nuts 27 on corresponding bolts 28 by means of stirrups.

The liquid flowing from the next higher column plate (FIGURE 3) on to the segment 3 passes from the latter over the weir 10 into the troughs 11 and on to the segments 4 and 5 and from there over the weir 10a of the segment 2 on to the said segment 2 and from thereon to the apertures 13 to the segment 3 of the next column plate. The gas penetrates from below through the clearance 12 below the hoods 23 and below the lower edge of the hoods 23 into the liquid situated in the troughs 11 and on the segments 4 and 5.

FIGURES 4 and 5 show another method of packing the clearance 12 at the ends of the troughs 11. In this figure, the lower part of the bolt 18 is formed as a plate 29 welded on the support at a level somewhat above the top of the weir 10. The chambers, of which only the lefthand one is shown in FIGURE 4, are formed by a twoarmed clamp 30 of spring metal, the back of which is welded to the flange of the trough 11 and the ends of which grip the plate 29. The arms of the clamp 30 have substantially the same height as the plate 29 and extend as far as the support 2. When the gas is at low pressure, such a sealing means is generally sutficient without packing.

The column plate according to the invention has the advantage that it can be very readily constructed with means which are in themselves simple to produce. The individual parts are connected by a small number of screws, so that on the one hand the assembly of such plates is simple and on the other hand the danger of leakage is very small. All the troughs and hoods are readily detachable and can be cleaned in the event of any stoppage occurring in the column. The essential parts of the plate, namely the parts 3, 4, 11, 22, 23 and 24, may be interchanged as desired and can be readily and rapidly replaced in the event of damage. Their crosssections are so small that they can be introduced into the column through man holes without difficulty.

In FIGURE 6, the plate is formed substantially of a plurality of troughs 11 so arranged in parallel juxtaposition to one another that clearances 12 remain between the troughs. The ends of the troughs are supported by supports 2 extending transversely thereto. The support 2 is formed with apertures 31 mid-way across the clearance 12 for securing bolts 32. An intermediate member 38 has an aperture 38a for the passage of the securing bolt 32. In addition, it has two opposing flanges 38b which hear at their ends against the flanges of the troughs 11. The intermediate member 38 also comprises a plate 380 on the forward side of the flanges 38b, the said plate being somewhat Wider than the total extent of the flanges 38b and therefore being able to bear against the end faces of two adjacent troughs 11. The length of the troughs 11 and the position of the apertures 31 are so chosen in relation to one another that the plate 38c bears against the end faces of the adjacent troughs 11. The chambers 38d formed between the flanges 38b and the front plate 380 are filled with packing material when the intermediate member has been disposed between the flanges of two troughs 11 and has been secured by the bolt 32 with the aid of a nut screwed on its lower end. The clearance 12 is thereby sealed from the outside.

A stirrup-shaped supporting element 22 is mounted on the intermediate element 38 so as to engage at its lower end over the two flanges of the adjacent troughs 11, the upper side of the said supporting elements being adapted to the shape of a hood 23 which may be mounted on the said supporting element. The hood 23 is formed in a manner known per se with lateral slots 25. The entire arrangement is held together by a nut 24 screwed on to the upper end of the bolt 32.

The arrangement according to FIGURE 7 differs from that according to FIGURE 6 substantially only in that the intermediate member and the bolt are integrally formed and in that the securing is effected by wedges. Disposed between the ends of the troughs 11 extending parallel to one another is an intermediate member 43 which engages around a rectangular bolt 48b, which is so wide that it bears on both sides against the flanges of the troughs 11,

and which has holes 48e in its upper end for securing wedges 33. A plate 480 parallel to the plane of the part 48b is connected to the latter by means of a web 48a. The plate 48c is somewhat wider than the bolt 48b, the width of the said plate being such that it can bear against the forward ends of the troughs 11. The plate 48c is widened at its lower end to form a foot 48 by which it bears on the support 2.

For the attachment of the troughs, the intermediate member 48 is so disposed between the ends thereof that the lower part of the bolt 48b extends through an aperture 33 in the support 2 and is secured therein by means of wedges passed through apertures 48g and bearing against the lower face of the support 2. The foot 48 then rests securely on the upper face of the support 2. The plate 430 then forms with the flanges of the adjacent troughs and the bolt 48b chambers 48d which are filled with packing material. The clearance 12 provided between the flanges of the adjacent troughs is thus sealed. A stirrupshaped supporting element 22 is mounted on the bolt 48b. The said element engages over the edges of the two adjacent troughs 11 at its lower end and supports on its upper face a hood 23. The hood 23 and the supporting element 22 are secured in position by wedges 33 pushed through the apertures 48e.

The bolt 4812 may also be rigidly connected to the support 2 by welding the foot 48f of the bolt 48b to the support 2.

The intermediate member 58 illustrated in FIGURE 8 consists of a bolt 5812 having the form of a plate comprising a bent-over portion 58/1 at its lower end. A plate 58c is connected to the part 58b by means of a web 58a. The plate 58c is somewhat wider than the plate-shaped bolt 5811, its width being such that it can bear against the forward ends of the troughs 11. The plate-shaped bolt 58b has in its upper end an aperture 582 to receive a wedge by which the hood can be secured. The distance between the lower edge of the plate 58c and the upper face of the bent-over portion 58/1 is exactly equal to the thickness of the support 2. When such an intermediate mem her is employed, the support 2 is not provided with a bottom bent-over portion but-if the support 2 has a substantially vertical thickeningthis thickening may be ottset somewhat from the edge of the support, which may be, for example, T-shaped.

The invention is suitable not only for round plates, but also, for example, for rectangular plates.

What is claimed is:

l. A plate for a column comprising spaced supports, a plurality of independent troughs each having ends resting freely on said supports, said troughs including adja cent sides defining clearances therebetween, hoods engaging over said adjacent sides and covering said clearances, sealing members on the supports at said clearance and including a packing material and means confining the packing material at least in part, bridge members superposed with respect to said sealing members, said bridge members bridging said clearances and engaging the ends of the sides of said troughs, said bridge members being interposed between said hoods and the sides of said troughs, elements on said supports positioning said sealing members, bridge members and hoods for sealing the clearances between said sides, and fastening means on said elements retaining said bridge members in position.

2. A plate as claimed in claim 1, wherein said means are members at the ends of said troughs in said clearances and said elements are vertical bolts supported on said supports, the latter said members defining channels opening upwardly as well as laterally away from said troughs, and adjacent of the latter said members on adjacent troughs substantially enclosing respective ones of said bolts, said hoods being supported on said last-mentioned members.

3. A plate as claimed in claim 2 wherein the packing material is in said channels and surrounds said bolts.

4. A plate as claimed in claim 2, wherein each latter said member is of U shaped cross-section and is of a length equal to the height of said troughs and of a width no greater than the lengths of the ends of said troughs resting on said supports.

5. A plate as claimed in claim 1, wherein said means each comprises a wide portion in fluid-tight engagement with the associated support and extending transversely of said troughs and each said element is a bolt fixed to said wide portion extending vertically from and spaced from said support, said sealing members further comprising clamps on the sides of said troughs gripping said portrons.

6. A plate as claimed in claim 1 wherein said means comprise intermediate members adapted for being introduced between said troughs.

7. A plate as claimed in claim 6 wherein said intermediate members comprise flanges for bearing laterally against said troughs and a plate for bearing endwise against said troughs.

8. A plate as claimed in claim 6 wherein said elements are vertical bolts adapted to be secured to said support, and each intermediate member is provided with an aperture for accommodating one of said bolts.

9. A plate as claimed in claim 6 wherein said means additionally comprise bolting members, said intermediate members and respective bolting members being integral.

10. A plate as claimed in claim 9 comprising a wedge securing each hood to its respective bolting member.

#11. A plate as claimed in claim 9 comprising a wedge securing each bolting member to its respective support.

12. A plate as claimed in claim 6, wherein each said sealing member comprises an upper and a lower part forming an extension of said intermediate members, said upper and lower parts being provided with openings, and said support being provided with an aperture for receiving said lower part, said upper part passing through said associated bridge member and hood.

13. A plate as claimed in claim 12 comprising a wedge securing each hood to its respective upper part and a further wedge securing each lower part to its respective support.

14. A plate as claimed in claim 13, wherein said intermediate member is provided with a pair of channels opening upwardly and laterally towards said troughs.

15. A plate as claimed in claim 14 wherein the pack- 6 ing material is in said channels and enclosed between said channels and the sides of two adjacent troughs.

'16. A plate as claimed in claim 7, wherein each intermediate member comprises a lower flange spaced from the bottom of the associated plate by a distance equal to the thickness of the associated support.

17. A plate as claimed in claim 7, wherein said sealing members additionally comprise bolting members, said intermediate members and respective bolting members being integral, said bolting member comprising a lower flange spaced from the bottom of the associated plate by a distance equal to the distance of the associated support and a plate portion forming a continuation of said plate, said plate portion being provided with an aperture and passing through said hood.

18. A plate as claimed in claim 17 comprising a wedge passing through said aperture securing each hood to its respective bolting member.

19. A plate as claimed in claim 18, wherein each said intermediate member is provided with a pair of channels opening upwardly and laterally toward said troughs, and including a packing material in said channels.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,882,104 Wallis Oct. 11, 1932 2,077,645 Smith et a1. Apr. 20, 1937 2,120,256 Mensing June 14, 1938 2,540,781 Glitsch r Feb. 6, 1951 2,690,332 Jorgensen Sept. 28, 1954 2,699,929 *Bowles Jan. 18, 1955 2,855,187 Rector Oct. 7, 1958 2,917,293 Mendelsohn et al. Dec. 15, 1959 

